Dish washing machine



J. W; CROOKS.

DISH WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLU) SEPT.18. 1919. 1,382,172.

Patented June 21, 1921.

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J. W. CROOKS.

DISH WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mu) SEPT 18, 1919.

Patented June 21, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/ j ATTORNEY J. W. CROOKS.

DISH WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mu) SEPT. 18, 1919.

1,382,172. Patented June 21, 1921.

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TTORNEY' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DISH-WASHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 21, 1921.

Application filed September 18, 1919. Serial No. 324,282.

To all whom 1' t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. CRooKs, of Pelham, county of Westchester, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Dish-Washing Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to produce a dishwashing machine particularly fitted for domestic use.

An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine, the cover being partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, parts being broken away to show the improved water elevator and distributer.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the water elevator and distributer in detail.

Fig. 4 is a top view of the water elevator.

Fig. 5 is a cross section showing the halvin partition in position.

Fig 6 is a perspective of the halving partition.

The machine comprises a dish holding tank A, which is water-tight and has a hinged cover (1 having a water-tight fit upon the top of the tank and swinging up out of the way when necessary for insertion and removal of the dishes. This machine is compact and of such a height that when the cover is closed it may be used as a kitchen table. The material employed in the construction is of such character as to fit it for this use, the tank being preferably made of galvanized iron or dairy tin with a white vitrified enameled surface on the outside, while the cover is of wood likewise having a white enameled top; this surface being easily kept clean. Within the tank A, are removable skeleton wire trays B, having pockets b of varying sizes, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, for holding the dishes, cups and saucers and special pockets 0 for the silverware (Fig. 1). Each tray is provided with handles d, to facilitate its removal from the tank. The bottom 6 of the tank A is inclined downwardly from all sides toward a central de ressed well C, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. ear the edge of the well C, and secured to the bottom 6, are supports 7, upon which the trays B, rest to maintain them level, and clear of the water in the tank.

One of the principal features of this invention is the novel way in which the water is circulated or distributed. In the center of the tank A, is a rotary water elevator and distributer D, (Figs. 2 and 3) having a central cylindrical tube 10, and also having a spiral passage E, for the water, of increasing diameter from bottom to top, as shown in Fig. 3. The spiral water passage is constituted by a frusto-conical casing 11 closed at its top, within which is a spirally arranged floor 12, which extends from the interior of said casing to the central tube 10. This spiral water passage E, is of increasing diameter from bottom to top because this feature insures an efficient elevation and distribution of the washing fluid or water. At the bottom of the passage E, is a scooping water intake F, wholly within the central well C, and, accordingly, completely submerged when there is water or washing fluid in the well. The intake opening is in a vertical plane extending radially to the axis of rotation of the distributer. The distributer rotates in the direction of the arrow a (Fig. 4) and the intake is at the advancing face of the lower end of the water passage, Accordingly, as the distributer rotates, the intake plows into the surrounding water and scoops it up. At its upper end the passage E, has a peri heral outlet nozzle or mouth G, which is o a larger area than the intake F. As shown in Fig. 4, the water elevator and distributer is circular in horizontal cross section and the outlet nozzle is constituted by an inclined partition 13, extending from the center of the elevator in a direction inclined to its axis and extending outwardly to and beyond the periphery of the elevator. and in a plane inclined rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation of the elevator as indicated by the arrow u. This partition is at the extreme upper end of the water passage and constitutes the terminal thereof. The outlet nozzle G, also has top and bottom plates 14 and 15 extending beyond the periphery of the elevator as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The mouth of the nozzle is open and unobstructed. Ex ept for the intake and outlet the water circulating elevator and distributer is imperforate.

The central tube 10 surrounds a drive shaft H. At the top of the tube is an interior sleeve 7 which fits upon the shaft H. The elevator D is fastened to the drive shaft H by a set screw h. The shaft H is journaled at its upper end in a bearing 77 secured to a rigid cross bar I, fastened at its opposite end to the walls of the tank beneath the cover. The lower end of the shaft extends through the bottom of the well C, and directly connects to the shaft of an electric motor J (Fig. 2) mounted upon a cross piece 16, constituting a part of the supporting framework of the tank. The motor is of such a character as to be run by current from any of the light fixtures or switches in a house thus adapting the machine to domestic use. To prevent the possibility of a leakage of water upon the motor, which is directly beneath the ventral well, there is provided a stationary standpipe K within the central tube 10 and surrounding the drive shaft having a watertight connection with the tank A, through its flange 17 and rivets 1. The standpipe K is located within the central tube with a free space between it and the shaft and between it and the tube so that it offers no resistance to the rotation of the shaft, and extends high enough within the tube 10, to be certainly above any possible needed water level within the machine, thereby avoiding the danger of any water getting into it. The standpipe terminates at its upper end below the connection between the drive shaft and the elevator and distributer. Consequently, the water elevator turns entirely communicates with a discharge pipe M, which is closed by a valve 0. T h1s dis'harge pipe can be connected to any convenient drain pipe or if. none is available, it can terminate above the floor and can discharge into a pan placed beneath it. The valve 0 may be operated by any convenient mechanisrn, such as, for example, that shown in Fig 2, consisting of, a vertical rod m, on the outside of the tank within easy rea'h, bell crank lever n, connecting the vertical rod with a horizontal link 0, a? second hell crank lever 0 connecting the link 0 with a vertical link Q pivoted to lever arm r, which extends through the valve casing a, and connects with the valve stem 2 to open and close the valve 0.

The dishes to be washed are placed in the racks, the smallest such as cups, saucers and individual vegetable dishes on the inside, and ranging outwardly according to size, the larger dishes being on the outside The knives, forks and spoons are placed in the pockets 0. In domestic use it is desirable that as small a quantity of water as possible be used. In the present machine, it is suflicient if enough washing fluid (sin-h as soap and water) is placed in the tank to fill the central well C, and no more should he used than enough to cover the inclined bottom 6. After the fluid is put in the machine and the cover closed, the motor J is started, which rotates the water elevator in the direction of the arrow u, in Fig. 4. The fluid is forced into the elevator at the advancing scooping intake F, through the spiral passage E, and discharged through the peripheral nozzle G, into the tank A, with great force in all directions so that it effectively reaches the entire interior of the tank, at a sufficient height to strike the upper edges of the dishes. The washing fluid is thrown into the tank by the elevator in suflicient quantity to cause a continual rain upon the dishes, and it flows down the dishes thereby efficiently washing them, draining back into the central well, where it is subsequently again taken up in the elevator and circulated as above. The usual time for thoroughly washing dishes is three minutes. At the termination of this operation, the cur-- rent is turned off, thereby stopping the elevator, and the valve M is opened sothat the dirty water is discharged from the machine. The tank is then supplied with the same quantity of clear boiling rinsing water, and the current is again turned on so as to again rotate the elevator I), whereupon the hot water is circulated in the manner described for the washing fluid; thus rinsing the dishes. The rinsing operation takes about two minutes. The valve M, is then opened draining off the rinsing water, whereupon the cover a, is swung back out of the way and the glass and silverware taken out and dried. The other dishes may be left in the machine to dry, and will dry very shortly if boiling rinsing water is used. It is feasible to leave the dishes in the machine altogether. Before placing the dishes to be washed in the machine, it is the proper practire to remove all of the large fragments of food from the dishes. This not only renders the cleansing operation more effective, but pre vents the clogging up of the drain pipe.

DODIQUIDCS, particularly in household use, there are only a few dishes to be washed, and there would be a waste of action if the water should be distributed throughout the tank. Accordingly, the machine is provided with guideways P on each side of the tank, in which a removable halving partition Q (Figs. 5 and 6) slides. This partition Q has inclined bottom edges to fit the inclined bottom (a, of the tank, and is bowed in its middle at in .to accommodate the elevator D. It is of suflicient height to be above the level of discharge of the fluid or water, confining the action of the elevator in distributing the water to one-half of the machine. The heavy broken line in Fig, 1, indicates the partition in position. The tank is provided with guideways P at both sides of the cross bar 7', as shown in Fig. 1, so that either ialf of the tank may be rendered ineffective. The partition is thus both removable and reversible.

I claim.

1. A dishwashing machine having, in combination, a tank with a bottom inclined downwardly from all four sides of the tank to the center thereof, a depressed central well in said bottom for the water having an outlet in its bottom, a rotary water-circulating elevator and distributer in said tank having a central tube and a i'rusto-com cal casing with a spiral water passage between said tube and said casing of increas ing diameter from bottom to top with a water intake at its bottom completely with-- in said well, and terminating in an outlet at its upper end of larger area than the intake, said outlet being formed by a partition inclined rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation of the elevator and extendin from the central tube outwardly beyon the periphery of said elevator and a top and bottom plate likewise extending beyond the periphery of said said elevator, an electric motor, a vertical shaft to which said elevator and distributer is secured at its upper end, said shaft at its lower end extending through the bottom of said well and connecting directly with the shaft of said electric motor, and a rigid cross bar within the tank above the elevator and distributer having a bearing for the upper end of said shaft.

2. A dishwashing machine having, in combination, a tank and a rotary water-circulating elevator and distributer in said tank having a central tube and a frustoconical casing with a spiral water passage between said tube and said casing of increasing diameter from bottom to top with an inta e at its bottom and an outlet at its upper end of larger area than the intake, said outlet being ormed by a partition extendin from the central tube outwardly beyond t e periphery of said elevator and top and bottom plates likewise extending beyond the periphery of said elevator.

3. A dishwashing machine having, in combination, a tank with a bottom inclined from all sides of the tank to the center thereof, a well in said bottom for the water, a cover for said tank, dish trays within said tank, a rotary water-circulating {elevator and distributer in said tank having a tube and easing with a spiral water passage therebetween of increasing diameter from bottom to top with an intake at its bottom and n outlet at its upper end, and a drive shaft to which said elevator and distributer is secured.

4. A dishwashing machine having, in combination, a tank, a depressed well in the bottom of said tank for the water, a rotary water elevator and distributer in the tank having a central tube and a frusto-conical casing with a spiral Water passage between said tube and said casing of increasing diameter from bottom to top with a water intake at its bottom completely within said well, and terminating in an outlet at the upper end of the spiral passage of larger area than the intake, said outlet being formed by a partition inclined rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation of the elevator and extending from the central tube outwardly beyond the periphery of said casing and a top and a bottom plate likewise extending beyond the periphery of said elevator.

5. A dishwashing machine having, in combination, a tank with a well in its bottom, and a rotary water elevator and distributer in the tank having a central tube and a frusto-conical casing with a spiral water passage of increasing diameter from bottom to top with an intake at its bottom completely within said well, a partition inclined rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation of the elevator extending from the central tube to the periphery of said casing at the upper end of the Water passage, and an outlet in the casing at its upper end of larger area than the intake.

6. A dishwashing machine having, in combination, a dishholding tank and a rotary water-circulating elevator and distributer in said tank having a spiral water passage of increasing diameter from bottom to top with an intake at its bottom and an outlet at its upper end, said outlet being of greater area than the intake.

7. A dishwashing machine having, in combination, a dishholding tank, and a rotary water-circulating elevator and distributer in said tank having a water passage of increasing diameter from bottom to top with an intake at its bottom and an outlet at its upper end, said outlet being of greater area than the intake.

8. A dishwashing machine having, in combination, a dishholding tank open at its top; a cover for said tank; a drive shaft extending through the bottom of the tank; a drive motor operatively connected with said drive shaft below the bottom of the tank; a rigid crossbar supported within and by the tank below its open top and the cover, said crossbar having a bearing for the upper end of said shaft; and a water-circulating distributer carried by said shaft between said crossbar and the bottom of the tank.

9. A dishwashing machine having, in combination, a dishholding tank; a rotary water-circulating distributer in the tank, and a removable and reversible partition extending crosswise of the tank and bowed at its middle to fit and accommodate the distributer.

10. A dishwashing machine having, in

combination, a dishholdingtank, and a rotary watercirculating elevator and distributer in said tank having a water passage of increasing diameter from bottom to top with a scooping intake at the advancing face of its lower end and an outlet at its upper end.

11. A dishwashing machine having, in combination, a. dishholding tank, and a rotary water-oirculating elevator and distributer in said tank having a central tube and a surrounding easin with a spiral water passage therebetween of increasing diameter from bottom to top with a scooping intake at its lower end and a peripheral outlet at its upper end.

12. A. dishwashing machine having, in combination, a dishholding tank, and a rotary water-circulating elevator and distributer in said tank, having a central tube and a surrounding casing with a spiral Water passage therebetween of increasing diameter from bottom to top with a scooping intake at its lower end and a peripheral outlet at its upper end, said outlet having a nozzle )rojecting beyond the periphery of the casing.

' In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name. I

JAMES V. CROOKS. 

